Feed devices

ABSTRACT

A feed device for products consisting of solid particles serves to feed said products without inclusion of air to a space, in which they are frozen, via a prechamber constituting an air lock for the products fed to the freezing space.

Astmm 51 Jan. 13, 1972 [54] FEED EWCES 2,496,636 2/1950 Orrell ..210 433 2,229,610 1/1941 Nicholoy ..302/14 [72] Invent Hasmgbmg Swede 3,447,337 1/1941 Skruch 62/374,

73 A F I 11111 C t AB H l l 1 88mm g a' "Ming 3 mg FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,093,727 1958 Germany ..302/14 [22] 1970 482,718 1953 Italy ..302/14 [211 App]. No.: 111,590

Primary ExaminerWi1liam F. ODea Assistant Examiner-Thomas R. Hampshire [30] Foreign Apphcauon Priority Data Atmmey Kafl w. flocks v Feb. 27, 1969 Sweden ..2670/69 [57] ABSTRACT (fill ..62/2F6265, A feed device for products consisting of solid particles serves [58] Fieid 'g 6499/19? to feed said products without inclusion of air to a space, in 210/400 302/14 which they are frozen, via a prechamber constituting an air lock for the products fed to the freezing space. [56] Reterences Cited 4 Claims, Eiwing Fig! UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,223,972 12/1940 Sterling ..62/266 FEED DEVICES This invention relates to a device for feeding products consisting of solid particles to a space in which they preferably are adapted to be frozen. Normally said products will be various types of foodstufi's. The object of the present invention is to realize that the products are free from air when they arrive in said space. To this end, the feed device is characterized in that it comprises a prechamber which is connected to said space and which includes a supply conduit through which the products are conveyed to the chamber by means of a fiow of liquid, means for separating the products from the liquid, a liquid discharge conduit having a nonreturn valve, and means cooperating with the connection to said space to transfer the separated products from the chamber to said space, said prechamber being closed except for the supply conduit, the discharge conduit and the transferring means so that the prechamber serves as an air lock for the products fed to said space. The device for feeding the solid particles without inclusion of air to said space is thus very simple and efficient.

The invention will be more fully described in the following with reference to the drawing which in longitudinal section diagrammatically shows a preferred embodiment of the feed device.

One designates a freezing space in which the solid particles are frozen with the aid of a coolant of the type that is evaporated upon contact with the particles by withdrawal of heat from them. The coolant which is for instance difluorodichloromethane or the like is sprayed onto the particles through the atomizer 2, but it is also possible to dip the particles into the coolant. The evaporated coolantis condensed on the cooling coils 3 and 4 in the freezing space 1. Another type of freezing can also be effected in the freezing space 1.

In accordance with the invention, a prechamber 5 is connected to the freezing space 1. This chamber 5 has a supply conduit 6 through which the particles are fed to the chamber 5 with the aid of a pump and together with a liquid, preferably water. Provided in the interior of the chamber is a dewatering device including a sieve 7 through which the liquid is passed for separating the particles therefrom. The dewatering device 6 is connected to the liquid discharge conduit 8 which is equipped with a water trap 9 serving as a nonreturn valve and ensuring that no air can enter through the conduit 8. Means 10 for transferring the separated particles from the chamber 5 to the freezing space I extend from the sieve 7 and cooperate with the connection to the freezing space. The means 10 may simply be an inclined plane, but also a conveyor, such as a shaking chute.

In a modified embodiment the device for separating the particles from the liquid may be a perforated conveyor belt which simultaneously serves as means 10 for transferring the separated particles from the chamber 5 to the freezing space 1.

As the chamber 5 is connected to the freezing space 1 the gas in said space will penetrate into the chamber 5 which will thus be filled with warm evaporated coolant.

I claim:

1. A device for feeding products consisting of solid particles to a space in which they preferably are adapted to be frozen, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary chamber means which is free from air and is connected to said space and which includes a supply conduit through which the products are conveyed to the chamber means by means of a flow of liquid, means for separating the products from the liquid, a liquid discharge conduit having a nonreturn valve means operable to prevent air from reaching the chamber means, and means cooperating with the connection to said space to transfer the separated products from the chamber means to said space, said chamber means being closed except for the supply conduit, the discharge conduit and the transferring means so that the chamber means serves as an air lock for the products fed to said space.

2. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for separating the products from the liquid is a sieve which cooperates with the liquid discharge conduit and from which extends the means for transferring the separated products from the chamber means to the freezing space.

3. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for separating the products from the liquid are in the form of a perforated conveyor belt which simultaneously serves as the means for transferring the separated products from the chamber means to the freezing space.

4. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the nonreturn valve means of the liquid discharge conduit is a water trap. 

1. A device for feeding products consisting of Solid particles to a space in which they preferably are adapted to be frozen, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary chamber means which is free from air and is connected to said space and which includes a supply conduit through which the products are conveyed to the chamber means by means of a flow of liquid, means for separating the products from the liquid, a liquid discharge conduit having a nonreturn valve means operable to prevent air from reaching the chamber means, and means cooperating with the connection to said space to transfer the separated products from the chamber means to said space, said chamber means being closed except for the supply conduit, the discharge conduit and the transferring means so that the chamber means serves as an air lock for the products fed to said space.
 2. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for separating the products from the liquid is a sieve which cooperates with the liquid discharge conduit and from which extends the means for transferring the separated products from the chamber means to the freezing space.
 3. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for separating the products from the liquid are in the form of a perforated conveyor belt which simultaneously serves as the means for transferring the separated products from the chamber means to the freezing space.
 4. A feed device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the nonreturn valve means of the liquid discharge conduit is a water trap. 